If you have a small kitchen, you probably feel like there's never enough space for your stuff. Well guess what? Big kitchen people have that same problem, too. No matter how many cabinets you have, or whether your countertop is better measured in inches or acres, your kitchen can probably use a little slimdown.

Today's Assignment:

Do a 20-minute decluttering sweep of your kitchen.

Set a timer for 20 minutes, then grab a bin or basket and pilfer through your kitchen, swiping as many things as you can bear to get rid of. You don't have to totally overhaul your space—just do as much decluttering of needless things as you can before the timer runs out.

But first... there are a few places not to look: The fridge, freezer and pantry can be spared today, because we'll be coming back for a sweep of those food storage spaces next week. I also suggest skipping your junk drawer during this timed sweep; I'm a firm believer that every room should have a catch-all junk area that can be stocked without judgement. If it can close, it's fine and good. I promise.

Where to Look:

cabinets

drawers

on the counter

on top of the fridge or cabinets

any freestanding furniture, like a hutch or island

What to look for:

anything that belongs in another room

broken cups, mugs and plates

multiples you have too many of

the fifth and sixth water bottles you never get to

kitchen tools and appliances you never use

baking sheets, pans, and pots that sit untouched

duplicate kitchen tools

old, gross cleaning supplies

old, stained, or extra plastic containers

takeout condiments, plasticware, and stray menus

out-of-date invitations or event announcements

expired coupons

excessive collections of paper or plastic bags

expired medication

cookbooks that haven't been cracked open in a year

When the timer stops, you know what to do: Grab your basket and sort everything in it. Anything that's in good enough shape should get set aside into "sell" or "donate" boxes, and the rest can get tossed into trash or recycling.